Morning Routine

Creating scrapbook layouts is the perfect way to capture moments for you, your family and friends to remember for years to come. And while most often, special events and happenings are the subject of layouts, why not think outside of the box and capture everyday events on your pages? Years from now, wouldn’t it be fun to look back through your pages and remember just how you spent your mornings?

See how Dora has listed the things that make up her morning routine? I wonder if her routine will be changed up in a couple of years from now. Or perhaps it is only her sassy shoes that get changed up in her morning routine! Carola put a lot of thought and creativity in to her page and I love it! What a busy, busy family they are. It will be fun for her boys to read this page five or six years from now so they can compare routines. As for me, I must be getting older … I truly DO enjoy the slow paced life! I remember hearing my parents talk about how different life was once they became empty nesters – and I now I know exactly what they were talking about.

My Life by Dora Phillips

Digital Supplies: Kit: Family Portrait by Amy Stoffel and Jen Davy Designs (After 5 Designs), Thread: Stitched by Anna Aspnes (Designer Digitals), Font: Distressed Typewriter.

Design Notes: I cropped the photos really closely to show just a glimpse of my morning. It allowed me to remove distracting elements and make some rough pics look much better!

Journaling: I start my day with a peek at my day planner and a carnation protein drink. Then I grab my iphone, select my sassy shoes of the day, and jump in the car. A trip to McDonald's for my large Coke and I'm ready to face my commute and tackle my work day.

Up at 5? by Carola Tolleson

Digital Supplies: Kits: Javalicios SVC, Perfectly Patchouli, One Fine Day by Nicole Young (DigitalScrapbookPlace), Elements: Altered Time Element Set, Falling Slowly Element Set by Nicole Young (DigitalScrapbookPlace), Software: Adobe Photoshop Cs4, Noiseware on some of the photos. Fonts: LD rogue, Assimilation, Animal Tracks.

Design Notes: Since I like papers and the grunge look to them, I stacked a few - a great way to add interest to the layout and show off the things you like most!

Journaling: Alex and I are the ones that wake up early in this family. It used to be just me, BK, but as soon as Alex showed up, he proved to us that sleep wasn’t on his 10 most important things to do list. He usually needs a bit of help getting up at 5 (his hour of choice), but once he is out of bed, he’s ok and keeps me company during my morning routine. OUR JOB - now this wasn’t one of those “your mission - should you choose to accept it” type things. It was more like, your job and that’s all there is to it! Feed Cats - Feed Dogs – various lizards & snake - mom and dad take care of the weekly feeding, but I’ll need to let the boys hold one or more of these guys before school. LOL! The ritual part of my morning routine is the part that I like best - after Alex has eaten breakfast, he goes to get dressed. I seize this little window of opportunity to call my mom, drink some more coffee and we talk about our plans for the day. Now whether these plans happen or not really doesn’t mater, it’s just the talking to another adult that gets the day off to a good start! This is where Alex’s morning and mine part ways - he plays XBOX, DS or one of the other electronic game systems and I start fixing lunches (after a quick look at MSN, Hotmail and the Weather forecast for the day.) COFFEE - my morning beverage. Everyone in our house knows that they can’t expect coherent conversation (or even breakfast!) from me before I have had my coffee. Ian & Sam - these are the ones that DON’T wake up early in this family. I mean never, under no circumstances will you see them out of bed more than 15-20 minutes before they have to be. The only reason Sam gets out of bed is that he takes the kids to school and Ian gets up because Dominic is coming over. 6:30 - 6:45 Time to wake up Ian & Sam, the late risers in the family. Dominic, Alex & Ian - Dom lives across the street and he rides his bike to school with Ian. These guys play together so much that you could call them the “THREE AMIGOS” 7:33 - The boys are off to school - FREEDOM (of a sort) - to continue my day in the way I see fit.

Life in the Slow Lane by Jill Williams

Digital Supplies: Kits: Urban Blues by Lauren Bavin (Digital Scrapbook Place), Nighty Night Mr. Moon and Poppadilly by Nicole Young (Digital Scrapbook Place), Her Lullaby by Irene Alexeeva (Scrap Orchard), Software: Corel PSP X3, Font: 1942 Report.

Editor's Note: The clock elements go perfectly with the idea of taking time to yourself in the morning.

Journaling: Mornings for me are very laid back. That's what happens when you are empty nesters. I wake up in a happy mood & can move at my own pace. There are a few things I do every morning though. I make a pot of coffee, I grab something from the freezer for lunch & I check my emails & FB all within the 1st 15 minutes of waking up.